I've been smoke-free for three weeks today! I've been smoking since i was 17 (I'm 25 now) and 3 weeks ago I decided to do something good for myself.
I'm using the 21mg patch still and will continue for another week before stepping down. I've found that the patch pretty much took my desire to smoke away completely, aside from a few cravings here and there (and my habit was not a small one, let me tell you that...) What is more important, was that the patches allowed me to get used to a life without cigarettes. It's amazing how different your life actually becomes when it's not separated into 30-45 minute segments between smoke-breaks. I found that the hardest part was just adjusting from the behavior of walking outside and lighting up, to doing...well I guess anything but that! I've exchanged these behaviors with biting a straw or having a lollipop, but after about a week I didn't really need that exchange...I just started living life...
I'm scared, however, of what's going to happen once I'm off the patch...will I become dependent on the patch? Will I crave it? I just want this whole smoking thing to be over with already, and the patch regime is not a quick process (but this isn't a quick process no matter what)
So, I guess I just wanted to kind of see if anyone else has this worry, or if anyone had that worry but overcame it and successfully quit the patches, and how you did it. I'm tempted to just stop using them all together but don't want to sabotage my awesome progress.
Also, does anyone get arm aches from putting the patch on your shoulder? I've really had a hard time with that lately.
Congratulations on quitting smoking and your three weeks of freedom!
I hope you are changing the location of the patch each application? If not - that should help. I have heard others have the same problem. If you are moving it around, perhaps you can try a different brand - generic vs. name brand or vice versa?
As far as coming off the patch - as you step down to a lower dose, you are gradually decreasing the nicotine until the final step is pretty low. I know some have noted they had mild withdrawal symptoms then - but nothing that you shouldn't be able to handle. The nicotine is out of your body in a matter of days and your body has had time to adjust to a lower dose, so any discomfort should be mild.
You are doing the REAL part of the work now - learning to live your life without the crutch of smoking. Each time you are stressed or angry, or lonely, or bored and find new ways to deal, you are doing the hard work of quitting.
You will be fine!
Nancy